1993 Volume 39 Pages 28-30
The occurrence of freezing injury in cortical parenchyma cells of mulberry trees was closely related with formation of aparticulate domains in the plasma membranes, which was produced by close membrane to membrane approach by freezing-induced cellular dehydration and deformation. The avoidance of the formation of the aparticulate domains in the plasma membranes in the cortical parenchyma cells in midwinter was related to the changes in the cytoplasmic structures which were produced rapidly by freezing to near subzero temperatures. The ER in vesicular form was rapidly altered to multiplex layers surrounding beneath the plasma membranes by freezing to near subzero temperatures. It was suggested that conversion of ER to the multiplex layers might play important role to prevent formation of aparticulate domains in the plasma membrane and providing a mechanism for extreme freezing tolerance.
